Six Ultra-Luxurious First Classes to Book with American Airlines Miles

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“Redeeming American Airlines Miles” Series Index

• Part 1 — 5 Ways to Stretch American Airlines Miles on Economy Redemptions
• Part 2 — 6 Ultra-Luxurious First Classes to Book with American Airlines Miles (this post)
• Part 3 — Where to Search Award Space for All Partners
• Part 4 — Award Rules and How Many Miles You Need
• Part 5 — Taxes, Fees, and Fuel Surcharges
• Part 6 — Redeeming for Domestic Awards
• Part 7 — Redeeming for Hawaii
• Part 8 — Redeeming for East and Southeast Asia
• Part 9 — Redeeming for Middle East and Indian Subcontinent
• Part 10 — Redeeming for Australia and New Zealand
• Part 11 — Redeeming for South America
• Part 12 — Redeeming for Europe
• Part 13 — Redeeming for Africa
• Part 14 — Redeeming for Fiji, Tahiti, Bora Bora, and French Polynesia

As far as the three US legacy carriers go, it is almost always cheaper to use American Airlines miles to fly one of its awesome partners’ First Classes than it is to use United miles to fly one of its partners’ First Classes. You can’t even use Delta to miles to book a three-cabin First Class.

However First Class awards took the biggest hit with American Airlines’ devaluation.  So if you can, look to use Alaska miles, Korean miles, or Singapore miles instead for First Class awards.

Luxurious First Class Options to Book with American Airlines Miles

I’ll give the miles price of a one way award because American Airlines allows one way bookings (we’ll cover that later), and I’ll give the price after a 10% rebate in parentheses. That’s because the American Airlines personal card offers 10% of the miles back on all American Airlines redemptions up to 100,000 miles redeemed per calendar year.

1. Japan Airlines First Class for 80,000 (72,000) miles

Japan Airlines First Class is among the best in the world, and is the best value award from the United States in terms of duration and partner product on the new American Airlines oneworld alliance award chart.

It combines a mostly enclosed suite with a wide, fully flat bed and impeccable service and food.

Japan Airlines First Class between the United States and Japan costs 80,000 American Airlines miles one way. There is not as much Japan Airlines First Class Award space open between the US and Tokyo as there was in February, but a smattering remains.

Here’s how to search for award space on ba.com (you won’t find Japan Airlines’ award space on American Airline’s website).

American Airlines miles used to be the cheapest way to book JAL First Class. Now they are the second cheapest, next to Alaska miles. That being said, it’s easier to get a lot of American Airlines miles quickly right now than it is to get a lot of Alaska miles quickly.

2. Cathay Pacific First Class for 110,000 (100,000) miles

Trip Report: New York to Hong Kong

You can book Cathay Pacific First Class one way for 110,000 American Airlines miles between the United States and China, Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia.

Cathay Pacific First Class is a throne…

…that turns into a large and comfortable bed.

Cathay Pacific First Class comes with some of the best food, fanciest wines and liquors, and most attentive service in the sky.

And best of all, award space is widely available from the United States to Hong Kong and from there to the rest of Asia if you can book either within a week of departure or 11 months out.

And now you can redeem American Airlines miles to the Indian Subcontinent via Hong Kong, so you could fly Cathay Pacific First Class to India.

If you have Alaska miles, you can book First Class to China, Hong Kong, or Southeast Asia in Cathay Pacific First Class for only 70,000 miles one way, so keep that in mind. Same logic applies to this example as does the last–t’s easier to get a lot of American Airlines miles quickly right now than it is to get a lot of Alaska miles quickly.

Here’s how to search for award space on ba.com (you won’t find Cathay Pacific award space on American Airline’s website).

3. Malaysia Airlines First Class for 90,000 (81,000) miles

Trip Report: Paris to Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia Airlines First Class on its A380 costs 90,000 miles between Kuala Lumpur and London.

Malaysia Airlines is a very large and comfortable seat that converts into an extremely long and wide bed.

The all-you-can-eat satay cart was the best food I’ve ever had in the sky.

And the attentive service–that included kneeling down to seat level for interactions–was way better than you’d ever get from a US-based airline.

Malaysia Airlines First Class is widely available throughout the year between Kuala Lumpur and Europe.

Here’s how to search for award space on ba.com (you won’t find Malaysia award space on American Airline’s website).

4. Etihad First Class for 62,500 (56,250) miles

Trip Report: Abu Dhabi to New York

Etihad First Class costs 62,500 American Airlines miles between Europe and the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, or Maldives. From the United States to those destinations is 115,000 miles.

Etihad First Class on its newest A380 has a couch that seats several people and a separate bed.

Etihad’s fully enclosed suites are the most spacious in the sky, and there’s a shower onboard that you can use in flight.

First Class Award space is usually plentiful on the A380 between London and Abu Dhabi throughout the year.

Here’s how to search for award space on etihad.com (you won’t find Etihad award space on American Airline’s website).

5. Qantas First Class for 110,00 (100,00) miles

Qantas First Class between the United States to Australia costs 110,000 miles for flights that last over 14 hours.

Qantas First Class features an open suite that converts into a bed…

…or a table for two.

Qantas First Class is widely available year round between London and Dubai. For example, here is the award calendar for two travelers this coming October (direct flights only)

It is not widely available between the United States and Australia, but there is some availability if you can plan your trip 11 months to one year in advance.

You can find Qantas award space right on American Airline’s website.

6. British Airways First Class for 80,000 (72,000) miles

British Airways First Class on the A380 from London to South Africa is 80,000 miles. It is a partially enclosed seat that turns into a fully flat bed.

There are fuel surcharges when you use American Airlines miles to book British Airways–the only fuel surcharges for any bookings in this post–but if the schedule is convenient, they may be worth paying. British Airways First Class is moderately available between the United States and Europe and between London and the rest of the world.

Also check out First Class on the British Airways 787-9 from 40,000 (36,000) miles one way on a ten hour flight.